Secondary Economic Activities
1. What are secondary economic activities?
Answer: Secondary economic activities involve processing raw materials from primary activities into finished products. Examples include manufacturing, construction, and processing industries like sugar mills or textile factories. They add value to natural resources.
2. Why are sugar industries located near sugarcane fields?
Answer: Sugarcane is a weight-losing and perishable raw material. It loses weight and sugar content after harvesting, so sugar industries are set up near sugarcane fields to reduce transport costs and ensure fresh raw material.
3. What is a weight-losing industry?
Answer: A weight-losing industry uses bulky raw materials to produce lighter finished products. For example, sugar industries use heavy sugarcane to make lighter sugar. These are located near raw material sources to save transport costs.
4. What is a weight-gaining industry?
Answer: A weight-gaining industry produces heavier or bulkier finished products compared to raw materials. For example, bakeries produce cakes heavier than flour. These are located near markets to reduce transport costs.
5. Why are cotton textile industries concentrated in Maharashtra and Gujarat?
Answer: The humid climate in Maharashtra and Gujarat prevents cotton threads from breaking during spinning. Coastal locations also provide port facilities for exporting textiles, making these areas ideal for cotton textile industries.
6. What is a footloose industry?
Answer: Footloose industries have no strong locational preference as their raw materials and products are lightweight and easily transportable. Examples include watch-making and diamond cutting, which can be set up almost anywhere.
7. How does climate affect industrial location?
Answer: Harsh climates like extreme heat or cold are unsuitable for industries. Moderate climates, like in coastal Maharashtra, support industries such as textiles by providing favorable conditions and reducing production costs.
8. Why are industries dependent on water located near rivers or lakes?
Answer: Industries like steel or food processing need large amounts of water for cooling, washing, or smelting. Being near rivers or lakes ensures a steady water supply and reduces transportation costs for water.
9. How does transportation influence industrial location?
Answer: Low-cost transportation reduces the economic distance for moving raw materials and products. Industries using heavy materials, like coal, are located near transport hubs like ports or railways to minimize costs.
10. What role does labor play in industrial location?
Answer: Industries require skilled or semi-skilled labor. Areas with abundant labor, like urban centers, attract industries such as textiles or food processing, ensuring a steady workforce and lower labor costs.
11. Why are bakeries located near cities?
Answer: Bakeries produce weight-gaining products like cakes, which are heavier than raw materials like flour. Locating near cities reduces transport costs for bulky finished goods and ensures quick market access.
12. What are agro-based industries?
Answer: Agro-based industries process agricultural products into finished goods. Examples include sugar mills, cotton textiles, and food processing units. They are usually located near agricultural regions for easy raw material access.
13. Why are mineral-based industries located near mines?
Answer: Mineral-based industries, like iron and steel, use heavy and bulky raw materials such as coal and iron ore. Locating near mines reduces transportation costs and ensures a steady supply of raw materials.
14. What is the role of government policies in industrial location?
Answer: Governments offer incentives like tax concessions, subsidized land, or water to promote industries in backward regions. They may also restrict industries in eco-sensitive areas, influencing their location.
15. What are Special Economic Zones (SEZs)?
Answer: SEZs are designated areas developed to boost export-quality production. They attract industries with facilities like tax benefits and infrastructure, such as SEEPZ in Mumbai, promoting industrial growth.
16. Why do industries prefer flat land for setup?
Answer: Flat land is ideal for building large factories and infrastructure. It reduces construction costs and allows easy access to transport facilities, making it a key factor in industrial site selection.
17. What are economies of scale in industries?
Answer: Economies of scale occur when industries cluster in one area, reducing costs due to shared facilities, labor, and markets. This attracts more industries, as seen in the Mumbai-Pune industrial corridor.
18. Why are public sector industries important?
Answer: Public sector industries, owned by the government, ensure essential goods production, like electricity by BHEL. They prioritize national development over profit, providing jobs and infrastructure in key areas.
19. What are industrial regions?
Answer: Industrial regions are areas with a high concentration of industries due to favorable factors like raw materials, labor, and transport. Examples include the Ruhr region in Germany and Chhota Nagpur in India.
20. How do ports contribute to industrial development?
Answer: Ports facilitate the import of raw materials and export of finished goods, reducing transport costs. Coastal areas with ports, like Mumbai, attract industries such as textiles and petrochemicals for trade efficiency.
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